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The European Union (EU) Directive on the Restriction of use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) restricts the use of six substances in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market after July 1, 2006.
Lead is just one of several banned substances in the RoHS Directive. While some in the industry have adopted the terminology of "lead free", removing lead alone will not achieve RoHS compliance.
Cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and lead (Pb).
Mercury: Thermostats, sensors, relays in switches and discharge lamps.
Lead: Soldering of printed circuit boards, glass for cathode ray tubes and light bulbs.
Cadmium: Switches, springs, connectors, housings, and printed circuit boards.
Hexavalent Chromium: Metal coatings for corrosion protection and wear resistance.
Polybrominated biphenyls and diphenyl ethers: Flame retardants in printed circuit boards, connectors, and plastic covers.
The extraction of these raw materials and their eventual disposal can cause damage to both the environment in terms of pollution, as well as to human health from occupational exposure and exposure following disposal. The removal of these materials from production will reduce the health risks of exposure, particularly for the elderly, children, and pregnant women.
Anyone that manufactures and sells electrical and electronic equipment within the categories specified in the directive. The majority of Adaptec's products fall under the categories of products defined in the RoHS directive.
One of the product categories affected by the RoHS requirements is Electrical and Electronic Equipment, which includes servers and storage, and the boards, drives, and other components of these solutions.
The use of "banned" substances (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in spare parts to repair equipment sold before July 2006 will be permitted, but will not be allowed in new equipment sold after July 2006.
The Annex of RoHS Directive lists a number of exemptions that allow the continued use of the restricted substances. The one exemption that applies to some of Adaptec's products is the exemption for "lead in solders for servers, storage, or storage array systems". Currently this exemption is granted until 2010. This is only an exemption for lead in solders. Lead that is not in solder and all of the other five restricted substances must meet the requirements defined in the directive.
Adaptec may use the exemption for lead in solder for servers, storage, and storage array systems for some of its products. The decision to use the exemption on any specific product is based on component availability or a specific customer requirement. Adaptec's overall goal is to produce RoHS-compliant products that do not use the exemption.
As the RoHS Directive is a European Directive, it will first be implemented in all European Member States. Countries outside the European Union will not need to impose the same restrictions however they may choose to do so under their own domestic legislation. For example; in the U.S., California has passed SB20 and SB50 and similar efforts are underway in other states, as well as additional countries, such as Canada, Japan, and China.
Adaptec has been working on the RoHS directive for over two years and plans to have RoHS- compliant products on the market before the July 2006 date. We have several RoHS-compliant products that have been in production since September 2005. To learn more about the Adaptec plan to meet the RoHS directive, go to www.adaptec.com/rohs.
For the latest list of Adaptec RoHS-compliant products, go to www.adaptec.com/rohs.
Although there are no specific labeling requirements defined in the RoHS directive, Adaptec will add a RoHS label to its products and packaging to indicate that a product is RoHS compliant.
We have changed the part numbers for RoHS-compliant components and products. The RoHS version of a product will carry the same Adaptec purchase part number but with either an "-R" or "-E" suffix. The "-R" suffix indicates that the product is fully RoHS compliant (no exemptions used). The "-E" suffix indicates that the product is RoHS compliant but uses the exemption for lead in solder for servers, storage, and storage array systems.
Example #1: The RoHS version of the Adaptec 4805SAS Kit, purchase part number will change from 2183100 to 2183100-R.
Example #2: The RoHS version of the Adaptec 39320A-R, purchase part number will change from 2060900 to 2060900-R.
Adaptec will be converting the majority of its products to be RoHS compliant in the March/April 2006 time frame.
RoHS-compliant products will be made available between now and July 2006. For the latest list of RoHS-compliant products go to www.adaptec.com/rohs.
Adaptec has a few products that cannot be converted to become RoHS compliant. These products will continue to be sold in markets that do not require RoHS compliance.
Adaptec has completed extensive testing of the process changes required to produce RoHS-compliant products. We have also completed extensive product testing on the Adaptec products that are already RoHS compliant. In addition, Adaptec's RoHS processes and manufacturing facility have successfully passed audits by several of our OEM customers.
Adaptec has a general certification statement that covers all products defined as RoHS compliant. This is posted on Adaptec's RoHS website at www.adaptec.com/rohs. In addition, the Adaptec website will indicate if a specific product is RoHS compliant.
For more information go to www.adaptec.com/rohs. |